Pet Fancy Rat Purchase Requirements, Housing Standards & Required Supplies

Responsible Breeding • Proper Husbandry • Ethical Placement • Lifelong Commitment

IMPORTANT — READ BEFORE APPLYING

Cherokee Flats is committed to breeding and placing healthy, well-socialized fancy rats in responsible homes.

These requirements apply to:

  • Standard Ear fancy rats.

  • Dumbo Ear fancy rats.

All mandatory requirements must be met before animals are released.

Product Recommendation Disclosure

Every linked product is something Cherokee Flats currently uses or has used in the past and highly recommends based on firsthand experience.

We receive no payments, commissions, sponsorships, free merchandise, or other compensation for recommending these products.

Equivalent approved products may be accepted.

 

1. REQUIRED — Same-Sex Group Purchases

ALL PET FANCY RATS MUST BE PURCHASED IN SAME-SEX GROUPS OF TWO (2) OR MORE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Cherokee Flats does not sell individual pet rats.

This requirement applies even when a buyer already owns rats.

  • Minimum purchase: two rats.

  • All rats in the purchased group must be the same sex.

  • Mixed-sex group purchases are prohibited.

  • Purchasing one rat to join an existing group is prohibited.

  • Appropriate group housing is mandatory.

  • Owners must understand safe introductions and monitor compatibility.

NO SINGLE RAT SALES. NO MIXED-SEX GROUP SALES. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

2. REQUIRED — Approved Rat Housing

Rats must be housed in secure, spacious, well-ventilated enclosures.

Cages must provide:

  • Appropriate bar spacing.

  • Secure doors and locks.

  • Adequate room for climbing and movement.

  • Solid resting surfaces.

  • Suitable sleeping areas.

  • Appropriate enrichment.

  • Easy access for cleaning.

Recommended Rat Cage:

Recommended Fancy Rat Cage — Amazon

Buyers must verify suitability for the number and size of rats purchased.

 

3. REQUIRED — Solid Cage Pans

Rat cages must have secure, solid-bottom pans.

Recommended Replacement Pans:

Bass Equipment — Ferret Nation & Critter Nation Replacement Pans

Stainless steel pans are recommended but not mandatory when another approved solid pan is available.

 

4. REQUIRED — Bedding

Recommended Bedding:

Guardian Horse Bedding — Swift Pick Mini Pine Shavings, Farm & Fleet

Bedding must be:

  • Dry.

  • Low-dust.

  • Appropriately processed.

  • Safe for rats.

  • Cleaned and replaced regularly.

Cedar, heavily scented bedding, and excessively dusty bedding are prohibited.

 

5. REQUIRED — Resting Areas & Stone Tile Options

All fancy rats must have appropriate sleeping and resting areas.

Stone or porcelain tiles may be used as an additional resting or cooling surface.

Recommended Tile:

Satori Multicolor 12" × 12" Natural Stone Slate Tile — Lowe's

Summer Cooling Tip

During hot summer days, stone tiles can be placed in the freezer to help provide a cooling surface for fancy rats.

Allow the tile to warm until comfortably cool before placing it in the cage.

Rats must always be able to move away from the tile.

Tiles must be:

  • Smooth.

  • Stable.

  • Clean.

  • Free of sharp edges.

  • Positioned where they cannot fall or tip.

Tiles must not be placed on unsecured elevated levels.

Stone tiles do not replace bedding, hammocks, nesting materials, or comfortable sleeping areas.

 

6. REQUIRED — Hideouts

Recommended Options:

Ware Manufacturing Pig Loo — Amazon

Niteangel Wooden Guinea Pig Hideout — Amazon

Hideouts must be safe, appropriately sized, and easy to maintain.

 

7. REQUIRED — Rat Nutrition

Recommended Food:

Oxbow Animal Health Essentials Adult Rat Food — Amazon

All pet rats must receive:

  • Nutritionally complete rat-specific food.

  • Fresh drinking water.

  • Suitable supplemental vegetables.

  • Limited species-safe treats.

  • Foraging opportunities.

Young, pregnant, nursing, or medically compromised rats may require different nutrition.

Water Bottle

Lixit Water Bottle — Amazon

Food Bowl

Bass Equipment Cast Aluminum Bowls

 

8. REQUIRED — Litter Training Supplies

Cherokee Flats introduces our fancy rats to litter training before placement.

Buyers must provide:

  • Appropriate litter pans.

  • Safe, low-dust litter.

  • Cleaning supplies.

Litter training should be continued after pickup.

Individual results may vary.

 

9. REQUIRED — Enrichment

Rats require mental stimulation, social interaction, and opportunities for natural behaviors.

All owners must provide:

  • Hammocks or suitable sleeping areas.

  • Tunnels.

  • Safe climbing structures.

  • Chew toys.

  • Nesting materials.

  • Foraging opportunities.

  • Supervised exercise.

 

10. REQUIRED — Additional Rat Supplies

All buyers must provide:

  • Approved rat cage.

  • Secure solid-bottom cage pans.

  • Appropriate bedding.

  • Comfortable resting areas.

  • Rat-specific food.

  • Water bottle or approved water source.

  • Food bowls.

  • Hideouts.

  • Litter training supplies.

  • Appropriate enrichment.

  • Secure transportation carrier.

  • Cleaning and sanitation supplies.

  • Access to a rat-experienced veterinarian.

 

11. REQUIRED — Outdoor Roaming Restriction

PET FANCY RATS PURCHASED FROM CHEROKEE FLATS MUST NEVER BE ALLOWED TO ROAM OUTSIDE ON GRASS.

Outdoor playpens placed directly on lawns are prohibited.

This policy is intended to reduce exposure to:

  • Parasites.

  • Infectious diseases.

  • Wildlife contamination.

  • Lawn chemicals.

  • Toxic plants.

  • Predators.

  • Escape and injury.

  • Unsafe weather conditions.

All exercise must occur in a secure, appropriate environment.

 

12. Spaying & Neutering Policy

Cherokee Flats strongly discourages elective spaying and neutering of pet fancy rats.

This policy is included in our Purchase Agreement and is intended to be a contractual condition of sale, subject to applicable law.

Medical exceptions are recognized when a qualified veterinarian determines that surgery is necessary to protect an animal's health.

Medically necessary veterinary treatment must never be delayed or withheld.

 

13. Purchase Requirements & Restrictions

  • Purchase application and approval required.

  • Same-sex groups of two or more mandatory.

  • No single-animal purchases.

  • No mixed-sex group purchases.

  • No pet sales to households with children under six.

  • Household information and existing animals must be disclosed.

  • Housing and supplies must be ready before pickup.

  • Cherokee Flats may request photographs of prepared housing.

  • Appropriate veterinary care must be available.

 

14. Pickup, Transportation & Payment Policies

Cherokee Flats operates as a closed-loop farm.

Visits and pickups are by appointment only.

Transportation: No live shipping.

RATS MUST BE PICKED UP IN PERSON. THIRD-PARTY GROUND TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PERMITTED.

Pickup: Animals eight weeks or older are generally scheduled for the next available Saturday. Other deadlines are governed by the Purchase Agreement.

Boarding: $20 per day when applicable.

Payments are non-refundable except as specified in the Purchase Agreement and required by law.

Holiday Closures

Pet sales and pickups are suspended:

  • December 1–31.

  • Fourteen days before through fourteen days after Easter Sunday.

Animals are not holiday gifts.

 

15. Final Rat Buyer Acknowledgment

By submitting an application, buyers agree to Cherokee Flats' requirements concerning same-sex group purchases, housing, bedding, nutrition, companionship, enrichment, outdoor restrictions, veterinary care, and purchase procedures.

Cherokee Flats reserves the right to refuse or cancel placements that do not meet our standards, subject to the Purchase Agreement and applicable law.

IF YOU CANNOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.